Montreal [Montréal]

This cityscape, called Montréal, was painted by Fritz Brandtner in 1935. Born in Germany, Brandtner immigrated to Winnipeg and later settled in Montreal, where he became well known for his role in introducing European Expressionism to Canada. Expressionists focused on feelings over reality and expressed emotion through tones and shapes, as can be seen in this painting of Montreal. Here, Brandtner conveys a mood of despair through the dark background colour, while diagonal lines and dynamic shapes reveal the uncertainty felt throughout society during the Great Depression.